Reflections

ABOUT INTERRUPTIONS by Hugh Farquhar The Gospel Reading from the Lectionary next Sunday is Mark 5:21-43. I own a book of cartoons that poke fun at ministers. One of my favourites shows a minister at work in his study at home. His four-year-old son is knocking...

"... God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them." - 1 John 4:16 The youngest of church groups, the Messengers, had it for their motto: God is love.  You see it on gifts for babies sometimes, God is love.  And it fits nicely on a...

STORMY WEATHER by Hugh Farquhar The Gospel Reading in the Lectionary for next Sunday is Mark 4:35-41. This Gospel Reading is a storm story. Mark says that it was “a great wind storm.” “The waves beat into the boat so that it was already being swamped.” It pitched and...

Earnestly Desiring the End Janice MacLean,  “Since all these things are to be dissolved in this way, what sort of persons ought you to be in leading lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens...

NOT AS MORTALS SEE By Hugh Farquhar The first Reading from the Lectionary next Sunday is 1 Samuel 15:34-16:13. At this stage in the history of the nation of Israel, the time had come to choose a new king. Samuel, the prophet, was led by God to the house of Jesse and...

"Christ was put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit, in which also he went and made a proclamation to the spirits in prison." - 1 Peter 3:19 This intriguing verse may be a reference to the day Jesus “descended into hell” (as in the Apostles...

A BUILDING FROM GOD Hugh Farquhar The Epistle Reading in the Lectionary for next Sunday is 2 Corinthians 4;7-5:1. This verse stands out for me: “For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands,...

"But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves." - James 1:22 It might seem that James, in his teaching, is the first leader of the "more than thoughts and prayers" movement. I'm not sure. James does concentrate on doing good works,...

A Cloud of Witnesses  Blogging through the bible, one verse from every book.  by Janice MacLean "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with...

IT’S PARTY TIME by Hugh Farquhar One of the Readings for next Sunday (Pentecost) is Acts 2:1-21. I have looked all over the place. There is not a single indication that it is several days before Pentecost! Remember what the Stores are like two days before Christmas?...

I’M PRAYING FOR YOU by Hugh Farquhar The Gospel Reading in the Lectionary for next Sunday is John 17:5-19. I focus on verse 9. Jesus said, “I am asking on their behalf . . . on behalf of those whom you gave me.” I remember visiting a woman nearing ninety who had been...

MAKING A JOYFUL NOISE by Hugh Farquhar The Psalm designated in the Lectionary for next Sunday is Psalm 98. It begins with the words: “Sing to God a new song, for God has done marvellous things.” It proceeds to describe the offering of praise to God through the music...

ANAM CARA by Hugh Farquhar Among the Readings for next Sunday in the Lectionary is Acts 8:26-40. So, in this story, an Ethiopian Official of the court of Queen Candace was returning in his chariot from a visit to Jerusalem., and he was reading words by the prophet...

THE WONDER OF BEING KNOWN by Hugh Farquhar  This week’s Gospel Reading from the Lectionary is John 10:11-18. I fix on verse 14: “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” My Aunt Ann was my mother’s sister. Married to my Uncle Murray, they owned a...

“So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.” – Philemon 1:17 Here is a letter from Paul, who is now old and in prison. To Philemon, Paul's dear friend and co-worker in the early church, and to the church who gathered in his home, about...

STANDING STRONG IN THE EMPTY TOMB’S TRUTH by Hugh Farquhar  The Lectionary Gospel Reading for this Easter Sunday is John 20:1-20. The daughter of a university professor suddenly fell ill and died. She was a gifted artist, had just been married, and was looking forward...

"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but according to his mercy, through the water of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit." - Titus 3:4,5 I notice the word...

DRY BONES DAYS by Hugh Farquhar The Psalm chosen by the designers of the Lectionary for this Sunday, Palm/Passion Sunday, is Psalm 31:9-16. For reasons I cannot explain, I found myself focusing on verse 10: “My strength fails me . . . my bones are wasted away.” This...